"Coming to Fresno State is coming home for myself and my family," Tedford said in a news release. "To have this special opportunity to return to my coaching roots is truly a dream come true. Our mission will be to grow and develop young people to reach their full potential in all areas ... academically, athletically, socially and spiritually ... to compete at high levels in the classroom and on the field while doing so with great character and high integrity. I look forward to reconnecting with all the past players and supporters to help bring the program back to prominence."

Tedford, 55, won 82 games as the coach at Cal from 2002 to 2012, but he was fired after the Bears went 3-9 in his final season and replaced by Sonny Dykes.

Fresno State is 1-9 this season and winless in six Mountain West games. Coach Tim DeRuyter was fired Oct. 23, and offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau was named interim head coach.

"Jeff possesses all the qualities we were looking for in a head coach," athletic director Jim Bartko said. "First and foremost, integrity, plus a great football mind and the ability to come in and hit the ground running. When you have the opportunity to hire someone who knows this valley and is Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred, there is not a better choice."

Jeff Tedford had considerable success as the coach at Cal, winning 82 games in his 11 seasons there. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Tedford was the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2014 season, but he underwent a heart procedure just before the season that forced him to take an indefinite leave of absence. The Buccaneers released Tedford from his contract on Dec. 5, 2014.

Two weeks later, he was named the head coach of the B.C. Lions in the Canadian Football League. The Lions went 7-11 in 2015, and Tedford resigned in December to pursue opportunities in college football, which led to his hiring at Washington.